The Eurasian hobby, a falcon that looks like a cross between a PeFa and a kestrel, is a beautiful bird. Lano found this new nest for us. Thank you, Lano! The chicks are already big enough to have pin feathers showing on their wings.

I love maps..
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Today, Dad Hobby flew to the nest, and the chicks both wanted to know why he didn't bring them a present. Then Mom showed up, scolding him for the same thing. The chicks then turned to Mom, wanting to know why neither parent had brought them a meal.

Here's a video of the whole family this morning. I assume it's Dad that showed up with no food and Mom comes in to yell at him about it.

The little hobby chicks are growing like weeds!

I really wish we had the opportunity to watch the Hobby sitting on her eggs. It would have been awesome to see if they have any of the same ceremonial posturings the PeFa demonstrate. There are so many similarities, and yet as we watch them, they demonstrate their own unique traits. The two little ones seem to have a closeness, with no evidence of aggressive behavior or rivalry.
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The pair woke up a few minutes ago. One found some leftovers and began self feeding. The other one came over and tried to get in on the meal, but was met with a backside and mantling! The one eating turned its back on the other and spread its wings out to shield the food. It continued to eat, using its talons to hold down the food while it tore chunks off to eat. I thought I got a snip of it, but apparently there was no film in the camera...again...just sayin'.

There are a lot of sounds in the background at this nest. I put on my head phones and could hear horses, kids playing, the wind, other birds, emergency vehicle sirens...

When I took my first look at the hobby chicks this morning, they were lumbering about the nest, like toddlers taking their first steps. Feathers are unfurling all over their wings and tails, and they are growing up fast. They began to chirp, and I knew an adult was nearby. Then Mom flew in with a large rodent. One chick almost took it from her, but she commanded order on her nest and served the meal properly, one at a time. The perspective of the photo makes the chicks look larger than Mom, and they are getting there.

Here's a video that shows some of the Hobby's awesome aerial maneuvers:

Videos from today.

This one from Seth Mythrax


and this one from Madárleső Kamerák.

They are growing so fast now! I get so much buffering on this site that it would be impossible to make a video but these videos are great recorded by Madárleső Kamerák.

Rapid fire feedings on this nest! They don't waste any time.